Ivory Skull — Memento Mori

This 17th-century ivory carving presents a highly detailed, realistic study of a human skull. The object highlights the natural sutures and bone texture, serving as a visceral reminder of human mortality.

The skull is the primary emblem of the Memento Mori tradition, frequently featured in cabinets of curiosity and scholarly studies during the 17th century to encourage reflection on the transience of life and the soul's detachment from the material body.